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30
Jun
‘Iconic’ cliff lift among proposals to help Knaresborough ‘emerge from Harrogate’s shadow’
Knaresborough has been urged to begin taking steps to secure funding for a cliff lift in a wide-ranging new report on the town’s future.
Connecting Knaresborough, written by consultants Carey Tourism, says a cliff lift would not only make it easier for people to navigate the steep divide between the castle and Waterside but also help to transform the town economically.
The report also suggests Knaresborough reconsiders setting up a business improvement district for medium and larger businesses to drive economic development and that English Heritage could eventually take control of the town’s medieval castle from North Yorkshire Council.
Investors and local organisations remain keen to explore the idea of a land train, which could generate up to £2.5 million a year, it says. But it adds this currently isn’t feasible because the council thwarted last year’s proposed week-long, £15,000 trial by blocking the attempt to get a Vehicle Special Order from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which the report says was expected to be a “formality”.
‘A spectacular attraction’
The consultants, who have built on the work of other groups including Knaresborough Renaissance, say the disconnect between the river and the castle has contributed to Knaresborough being “overshadowed” and “socially and economically disadvantaged compared to other market towns”.
Surveys, they add, show that this issue and lack of parking are residents’ main gripes about the town.
The report says:
The existing 120 steps between the riverside and castle top are increasingly uneven and poorly maintained, and a more substantial connection is required. A mechanical link has been discussed for decades, with proposals that include a funicular and various kinds of lift. Despite legitimate concerns about aesthetic and environmental impacts, a beautifully designed and brilliantly engineered cliff lift has emerged as the most desirable solution.
The idea would be to create a spectacular attraction comparable to Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North at Gateshead and which would also be extremely functional for both residents and visitors as an outstandingly sustainable transport link and as an iconic new viewpoint.
The cliff lift is the missing link to new markets and would be transformational, as it is the gateway to new income streams worth more than £2 million per year. Discussions with a range of stakeholders indicate that, including gateway infrastructure, the cost of installing the proposed lift would be in the region of £3 million, which is small in relation to potential economic benefit.
But the report says no potential investor will consider involvement in the project unless the lease on Knaresborough Castle, which is owned by the Crown through the Duchy of Lancaster, is extended.
It was leased to Harrogate Borough Council for 50 years from 29 September 1982 and is therefore due to expire in seven years.
The consultants say “there is no evidence that any formal negotiations over the renewal of the lease have yet begun”, which it says has led to suggestions of North Yorkshire Council’s “lack of interest in Knaresborough generally and Knaresborough Castle in particular”.
It adds:
With the apparent lack of interest, there is a growing argument for North Yorkshire Council to take the ‘nuclear option’ of letting the lease expire in 2032 and simply ‘handing back the keys’. This would be unpalatable for Knaresborough and all those that care about Knaresborough’s heritage and community, but it would force the hand of Duchy if Lancaster and probably lead to the asset being transferred into the care of a reluctant English Heritage.
The report suggests, however, English Heritage — which manages Pickering Castle on behalf of the Duchy of Lancaster — might warm to the idea if a “clear commercial opportunity” could be developed, for instance by expanding the Courtroom Museum and developing a café.
The proposed land train route.
Next steps
Carey Tourism suggests the mayor of Knaresborough should invite David Skaith, the mayor of York and North Yorkshire to Knaresborough and convene a meeting about potential funding support for the cliff lift, land train and other improvements. The process should also involve town and county councillors, as well as business and civic stakeholders, it adds.
It also recommends the town reconsiders setting up a BID, and urges Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council, to liaise with the Duchy of Lancaster and English Heritage to negotiate the transfer of the Knaresborough Castle estate.
It concludes:
There is no plan for Knaresborough that will suit everyone, but the current political landscape might be conducive to Knaresborough securing significant investment and emerging from Harrogate’s shadow.
Carey Tourism was paid £20,000 to produce the report in association with market research company 56 Degree Insight after Knaresborough & District Chamber and Knaresborough Town Council agreed to work together to build a business case for better connectivity in the town.
Ben Carey, from Carey Tourism, will be at Knaresborough Library from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday (July 2) to discuss the findings with residents.
Knaresborough & District Chamber will hold a business meeting at 7.30pm on the same day to talk about the report.
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